Mister D: Looks like some of us wrote and received responses from ‘Miss Jones’, the script reviewer. From the sound of it, some of you guys and gals weren’t holding back on your feelings:-) Anyway, the aforementioned Miss Jones wrote a blanket e-mail defending her statements concerning Bette in the role of Bobbie in the remake of “The Stepford Wives”.

The e-mail had some bite to it…a little dry humour…which I love and the lady made some good points. She did try to point out that she was talking about Bette “the actress” as opposed to Bette, “the person”. Read More

Hairspray, the frothy hit Broadway musical that nightly takes audiences back to a John Waters version of early 1960s Baltimore, has returned its entire $10.5 million dollar investment, producer Margo Lion told Playbill On-Line.

The show—which is an odds-on-favorite to win multiple Tony Awards on June 8—recouped several weeks ago. Hairspray was a hit out of the gate, winning praise in an out-of-town tryout in Seattle and riding a wave of anticipation and ticket sales into New York City, where it opened at the Neil Simon Theatre on Aug. 15, 2002.Read More

YOU CAN still catch the swinging balladeer Michael Bublé (pronounced Boob-lay) at the Blue Note in Greenwich Village doing two shows a night through Sunday. This young guy is the comer from Warner Records, who makes all the standards immortalized by Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and Dean Martin live again. Bublé has been on a classy high since he wowed everyone at my recent 80th birthday party! He sang that night with the likes of Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler and Tommy Tune. Not bad.

“I stated that Hello, Dolly! would be seen again “when the right diva and director come together to reinvent another piece long identified with its original star and stager.” Not so long ago, it was rumored that Bette Midler might be interested in returning to stage musicals in a new Dolly!, to be directed by Susan Stroman. Since then, Midler has chosen to embark on a new concert tour, and it remains to be seen if she would be willing to play eight shows a week, of Dolly! or anything else. So it could be some time before Broadway sees a new Mrs. Levi descend the staircase.” (Ken Mandelbaum, 05-29-03)Read More

Mister D: This review came from a new fan of Bootleg Betty named Andy. I was glad he alerted me to this piece. It’s interesting, because the reviewer really seems to enjoy the script….and can’t wait to see it…UNTIL she finds out Bette Midler is in it…then all of a sudden, it’s not worth going to see. Read for yourself…it’s a good read. Afterwards, there is an e-mail address if you’d like to provide your comments:-)

Plans are afoot to remake 1975’s male fantasy/feminist nightmare The Stepford Wives and word on the street is that at least some of the femmes-into-fembots saga will be committed to celluloid–just as the original was–right here in Fairfield County.Read More

Posted inGeneral|TaggedBette Midler|Comments Off on One Man’s Opinion on the Remake of “Stepford Wives”

Donald De Line, producer of the upcoming remake of The Stepford Wives, told SCI FI Wire that the film reinvents the story by going for laughs, but preserves the central SF premise: The men of a Connecticut village have replaced their wives with robots. “You can remake something, [or] you can do it in a way where you take iconic elements of an original and then make it original again for its time,” De Line said in an interview. “That’s what is done with The Stepford Wives, [which] completely turns it on its head, because it’s a comedy.”Read More

Posted inGeneral|TaggedBette Midler|Comments Off on Stepford Goes For Laughs: Filming Pushed Back To June 16th

Most actors use every fiber of their body to deliver their art. But one group of local actors must make their bodies invisible, using only their hands and their voices to tell a story. The results are mesmerizing, judging from the rapt attention of their audiences.

Puppets in Paradise is a volunteer group of puppeteers that has been pleasing audiences of all ages in Key West the past two years.

Valerie West, founder of the group, looks a lot like one of the puppet characters she creates: A petite dynamo with sparkling eyes and a huge smile.Read More

Now I’m more confident than ever that the girl duet will be either k.d. lang or Ronstadt.

This picture is of k.d, Barry, and Bette at the Ella Awards circa 1998 where Rosemary Clooney was being honored.

The same Manilow fan sent this to me. I also just heard from Kathy from the official Rosie site and she said Linda was there that night too…and she believes all 4 sang together that night. She will be trolling though her tapes tonight. Much obliged!!!!